Cantusci Claims (IHRA) Championship

Skilled Canadian racer Gianni Cantusci (from Sittsville Ontario) enjoyed his finest hour in drag racing last weekend…..

By winning during the IHRA’s Summit World Finals, held at Virginia Motorsports Park,  Cantusci has claimed the 2011 World Championship for Super Stock class racing in IHRA.

Behind the wheel of his 2000 Firebird. Cantusci just made it into the TOC (Tournament of Champions) via a third-place finish in IHRA’s Division 1.  But that mattered little on race day as Cantusci defeated Gil Carty Jr., Jared Erichsen, Anthony Bertozzi and eventually Gilbert Johnson Jr. on his way to the title.

Cantusci hit a .016 light and ran a 10.27, 125.88 mph on a 10.26 dial in the final round to win by approximately two feet at the finish line stripe over Johnson.

Gianni had qualified #10 in the special 15-car Super Stock field.

Congrats to Gianni Cantusci who claimed the overall 2011 IHRA Super Stock Championship title

After a grueling season, over 200 racers made their way toVirginia from 21 states and five Canadian provinces to participate in the Summit World Finals culminating with two championship tournaments Sunday afternoon. All of the drivers had to earn their way into the tournament and, once there, had to compete on the track to decide the champions in each of the nine classes.

Other 2011 IHRA Sportsman World titles went to Glenn Wright (Top Sportsman), J.B. Donati (Top Dragster),  Phil Combs (Stock), Barry Ryan (Quick Rod), Steve Furr (Super Rod) and Chip Johnson (Hot Rod).  All World Champions received $10,000 and a special championship Ironman trophy as the IHRA closes the book on the 2011 drag racing season.

Posted by:  Larry Crum